LAURA KENNY carried Team GB's Union flag at the Olympics closing ceremony.
Kenny won her fifth Olympic title on Friday in the women’s madison alongside Katie Archibald, becoming the first British woman to win gold at three successive Games.
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And she was the star of the show for her nation at a spectacluar closing ceremony that saw Tokyo sign off with a stunning light show.
On being selected to be Team GB's flagbearer, Kenny said: "An absolute honour to be selected as the Team GB flagbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony, and it rounds off my Games experience.
“The past 18 months have been tough for everyone, and I really hope me and my Team GB teammates have given the nation something to celebrate.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I am now Britain’s most successful female athlete, all I know is that I’ve worked so hard to be here and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and everyone at British Cycling.”
Husband Jason is also the most successful British Olympian after claiming his seventh Olympic title, comfortably win the men's keirin race on the final day of the games.
Jason has now surpassed former cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who has six golds to his name.
Team GB finished with 22 gold medals and 65 overall for the Tokyo Olympic Games, two shy of their 2016 Rio total of 67.
Team GB were very successful in disciplines involving bikes, and Tom Pidcock picked up Britain's first gold in the men's mountain bike cross country on July 26.
Legendary swimmer Adam Peaty followed in Pidcock's footsteps the same day and won Team GB's first swimming gold medal in the 100m breaststroke.
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And Tom Daley finally got his hands on Olympic gold the same day as Pidcock and Peaty, winning men's synchronized 10m platform diving alongside Matt Lee.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to Instagram to congratulate Team GB for their fantastic medal haul.
He said: "These past two weeks, Team GB have shown us the very best of this country – demonstrating our sportsmanship, hard work and determination.
"From record-breaking performances in the pool to gravity-defying runs in skateboarding and BMX, this team has shown extraordinary depth and breadth of talent.
"I want to thank each and every one of our Olympians and all those behind the scenes whose hours of coaching and training have been instrumental to our success.
"This team has shown that even in the most difficult circumstances, sport brings people together and changes lives.
"You have shown grace in victory and amazing courage in defeat. And whilst you may not have heard the roar of the crowd in Tokyo, every one of you has given us a reason to cheer back home – in living rooms, pubs, parks and offices across the land.
"Above all, you have again revealed the central truth about this country: that when we put our minds to it, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
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"Thank you Team GB. We are so, so proud of you. Now bring on Paris!"
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are just three years away instead of four, due to the Tokyo Games' one-year delay.
And Parisians have gathered near to the Eiffel Tower with Paris Olympics chief organiser Tony Estanguet - triple Olympic gold medalist in canoeing - leading the celebrations.
Estanguet has promised that the 2024 Paris Games will be "spectacular".
Speaking to AFP, he said: "How exciting to finally be able to officially take over the status of the future organisers.
"One hundred years after the last Olympics in Paris, we are taking the Games home with us.
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"We are in good shape, we're ready to run this marathon at the speed of the 100 metres and we're going to have to accelerate.
"Our strong point is our capacity to offer a new model for an Olympic Games, more spectacular Games... with a real emphasis on the financial part, the environmental part and on our desire to throw open our doors so people can really experience the adventure.
"France has everything to make the world marvel at it, and we are going to be watched by four billion people!"
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